Helmet.



C. J. JESSUP.

HELMET.

APPLICATJON FILED ocT. 23. 1915.

1,176,901. Patented Mar. 28,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

THE COLUMBIA I LAI3IOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

Patnted Mar. 28,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

CARL J. JESSUP, F RICHMOND, INDIANA.

HELMET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL J. JnssUP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful construction for Helmets, of which the following is a full, clear, and

V comprehensive specification and exposition,

the same being such as will enable others to make and use the same with exactitude.

The object of my present invention, broadly speaking, is to produce a helmet, particularly intended for use by firemen, which will be strong and durable in construction, neat and compact in appearance, easily operated and controlled, highly efficient in practice, light in weight, and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

More particularly stated, my object is to provide a firemans helmet to be placed on ones head and adapted to allow the wearer to remain for a comparatively long period of time in direct contact with highly injurious correlated in the claims which terminate this specification.

One means and the preferred manner for carrying out the objects of my invention in a practical manner is shown in the accompanying. two sheets-of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention applied to a person as in actual practice. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the invention, showing the interior thereof. Fig. 3 1s a perspective detall VIEW e of the metal core ornose-piece. Fig.4: is a slde elevatlon of the complete 1nvent1on.

lllllllltwwluwwitl w Fig. .5 is aperspective view of the leather mask which forms the body of the device. Fig. 6 is arear inside view of the construction. Fig.- 7. is a cross section of the rear head-bandl And'Fig. is an edgeview Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. as, rare.

Application filed October 23, 1915. Serial No. 57,436,

of one of the temple springs, showing the means for holding in place the free end thereof.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout the several views. In order that the construction, the operation, and the advantages of the invention may be more clearly comprehended and appreciated I will now take up a detailed clescription thereof in which I will set forth the construction as briefly and as compre hensively'as I may.

Referring now to the drawings in detail: The mask, shown in Fig. 5, is formed of a single piece of stiff leather which is pressedinto substantially the form shown, and which is adapted to conform to the face of the wearer and spaced therefrom, forming an air space, and it comprises the curved vertical front 1, through the upper portion of Which is formed the comparatively large sight aperture 2; and in the lower portion thereof is formed the mouth aperture 3. Sloping slightly back from the upper edge of the front portion 1 is the brow portion 4, which merges into the dome or forehead fitting portion 5. Extending down from thedoine and the brow portions, and directly back from the front 1, are the side portions 6. And connecting the lower portions of the sides is the curved chin portion 7, which extends directly back from the lower portion of the 'front 1. Formed through the brow portion 4 are a plurality of small apertures 8, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. hen the helmet is completed the mask will be entirely covered from sight, but it gives form to the helmet and provides a support for other parts of the construction, as will be made apparent.-

-The core is made preferably of aluminum, which is molded into substantially the form in which it is shown in Fig. 3, being in the nature of an elongated ring which is curved to fit the curvature of ones face around the eyes, and it comprises an inner flange portion 9, and an outer flange portion 10 which latter is made to fit the inner curvature of the mask, to which it is secured in the manner hereinafter set forth. The flanges 9 and 10are spaced apart and are integrally united by the solid web 11, which is flush with the inner periphery of the core, thereby forming a channel 12 exlt to the inside of the mask whereby the: aperture of the core will register with the sight aperture 2 of the mask, and an innertending around in the periphery of the core as indicated. A U-shaped notch 13 extends outward from the'inner edge of the lower central portion of the core, which is adapted to fit the nose of the wearer of the mask. The core is secured by a plurality of bolts transparency, such as mica, denoted by numeral 15, is secured between the flange 10 and the mask whereby it will cover said sight aperture.

Covering the front 1 (excepting the sight aperture and the mouth aperture) and also covering the sides 6 and the chin portion 7, is a finishing material, such as fire resistance leather, or the like, denoted by the numeral 16. -Numeral 17 denotes the outer transparency,which also closes the aperture 2, and it extends outward onto the leather 16 around said aperture, and it is held in place by the ring or plate 2%, and it is located parallel with the transparency 15 and it is spaced therefrom. The ring or plate 24 is, disposed around thesight aperture and its inner periphery registers with the aperture 2, and it is secured also by the bolts 14 which clamp the said ring, the leather 16, the two transparencies and the mask tightly together, as indicated in Fig. 2.

The breathing valve comprises a tubular body 18 which extends out from and around theleather 16, with its aperture registering with the aperture 3, and at its base is an out turned" flange 19 which fits tightly against 7 the'leather 16 around the aperture 3 where it is secured by the rivets 20 which extend through the mask, as indicated in Flg. 6;

The outer end of the body 18 is formed per-i fectly' level and smooth to receive thereon the cap 21. The said cap is hinged at'its upper central edge on the pivot 22, which latter is carried by the stem 23 formed 1ntegral with the upper part of the body 18.

The face of the cap 21 is covered with a gasket 25, formed of soft' material. A

spring 26-is arranged to hold the cap 21 against inadvertent displacement in either its open or closed positions, as indicated in Figs.4 and l, respectively. Secured to and extending back from the'dome 5 is the head cap 27 which is adapted to fit the top and a portion of the back of the head of the user, its lower edge being horizontal and on a level with the upper edge of the sight aperture 2. Extending back from the rear edge ofthe cover 16, united therewith and to the rear edge of the mask by stitching, is the double leather extension 28, the ends of V which are united with the lower edge'of the' head cap 27. A strip of sheep-skin,or the like, denoted at 29, is located around in the loo'p formed bythe inner and the outer thicknesses of the extension 28, in order to forma soft pad to press against the sides of the face and under the chin of the user.

Numeral 3O denotes the hood, formed of leather'or thelike, having its lower edge se cured around to the lower edge of the head cap 27and to the upperends of the extension 28, and also to the upper edge of the mask'and underneath the upper edge-of the ring 2 1:. The said hood extends considerably above the head cap 27, thereby forming an air reservoir 31 above thesaid head cap, An air inletvalve 32 islocated inthe center of the rear lower portion ofv the hood through which fresh air may be forced into the reserrear portion of the hood and'ithas an eyelet therein to engage over the stemiof the valve 32', or a special. fastening may be provided therefor, in orderto prevent the front por voir 31. An eyelettab is secured to'the tion of the hood'fromfalling over the vision of the wearer when the, hood is deflated The'lower rear portionof the hoodis secured to the lower portion of the head cap' '2Tby a double row of stitching, thereby forming a channel in which is located a strip. of elastic 34, the same being secured at oneend with the other end projecting out through a slot in the lower portion of the hood'30, asshown in Fig. 1, and it is adapted to be adjusted and secured the buckle 37.

Numerals 38and 39 denote the two temple springs, each having its forward end secured by one offthe bolts l' t underneatlithe ring 24, from which they curve rearward with theirrear ends expanded upward and=doW1r ward and adapted to it and pressthe' extension 28' in contact with the wearers' cheek bone immediately belowfthe temples and in front of ones ears; The rear portions of the springs 38 and'39 are retainedin place by the respective slotted tabs 42 'and43,each having one end secured in the edge of"the.eX tension 28and' projecting forward, with the springs'inserted in the slots th'ereoflsubstan tially as sh'own.

The inner f'ace'of the fl'ange9of the core is covered with a pad40, formed of some suchmateria l as wool, which" also extends around in the curvature of the notch 13, which prevents one s 1 face from contact with the metal core. Also the interior of the mask, above thecore is'covered or lined with wool or the like, which isdenoted bynumera'li' 4:1, and thesame extends downi'the' sides and I tect theface, andjn' connection with the pad 40 preventing ones face from coming into contact with any hard material of theconstructionl And a further purpose of the pad 10 is to prevent moisture of ones breath from coming into contact with the transparency; and a further purpose of the lining 41 is to form contact with the face and prevent the outside air from entering the helmet As will be observed, in Fig. 1, my device is shown as in operative position in connection with a person, a portion of the face being seen through the transparency, and the relative positions being shown in proper position with relation to the person. And it will, perhaps, have been anticipated that the particular function of this invention is to protect the face, and particularly the eyes,

the nose and the mouth from noxious gases,

and to prevent such gases from being inhaled into the system of the user.

When constructed substantially as set forth the device may be placed upon the head of a fireman, for instance, leaving the cap 21 open, as in Fig. 4:, in order that he may inhale pure air until heis in proximity to smoke or noxious gases then by simply pressing slightly forward on the cap 21 it will cause it to quickly close and thereby prevent the entrance of impure air. On account of the comparatively large air space therein the wearer of the "device may continue his natural breathing for a protracted period of time, and if he'has abnormally filled his lungs with air before closing'the. cap 2-1 it will be found that by exhaling the air from his lungs after closing the cap that it will cause the air reservoir 31 to fill, or nearly so, suflicient in which to cause the hood to spread or expand to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for it will be seen that the reservoir 31 has communication with the air space back of the front 1 of the mask through the channels 12 and the aper tures 8. 7

It is evident that by attaching a tube to the valve 32 that fresh air may be forced into the reservoir 31, andfrom there to the mouth and nostrils of the wearer, and there will be no danger of this air pressure becoming too high as beyond a certain limit the excess may escape but still effectually prevent the inlet of contagious outside air.

However in mostinstances the introduction of air under pressure will not be necessary,

as the air originally in the device will be all that will be required to keep the wearer in good physical condition for a comparatively long period of time.

By reason of the fact that the construction is carried entirely by ones head it is apparent that the user will be enabled to turn his head in all directions as freely as he would without this device in place; and by reason of the large sight aperture he may be able to observe all about him, and therefore be enabled to work intelligently and with greater safety.

By reason of the double transparency there will be no danger of the vision becoming clouded or obscure, by reason of moisture being deposited on the transparency from the wearers breath or otherwise, as the moisture of the wearers warm breath will not come into contact with the outside transparency, which may be cold. Also by rea son of the double transparency the smoke andfumes .on the outside will be more securely excluded, and also, the double transparency will more effectually prevent heat from a burning building from reaching the wearers face.

It should also be observed that by reason of the soft lining of the parts which contact with the wearers face that the device is not only made entirely comfortable to the wearer, but it reduces to the minimum the probability of injurious gases reaching the parts of ones face which it is desired should be protected.

.I desire that it be understood that I am not to be limited. to the precise details of my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A helmet including a mask forming the base of the helmet, a metal core secured to the inside of the mask and adapted to fit the face and nose of a person and having a sight aperture therethrough, a sight aperture formed through the mask and registering with the aperture in the core, a front and a rear transparency closing the sight aperture, a breathing valve carried by the mask and extending out from in front of the mouth of the wearer, a head cap extending back from the upper portion of the mask and adapted to fit over the top of the head of the wearer, extensions projecting back from the sides of the mask, temple springs located outside the mask and each having one end secured to the core and with their free ends expanded and adapted to retain the extensions in contact with the sides of the face of the wearer, and an air reservoir located above the head cap'and 7 having communication with the space between the mouth of the wearer and said valve, all substantially as set forth.

2. A helmet comprising a mask conforming to the contour of a persons face and to be spaced therefrom and having a sight aperture and a breathing aperture formed therethrough, a core secured to the inside of the mask around the sight aperture and con forming to the parts of the face and the nose-opposite thereto, a pad located between the core and the points of contactw'ith the face and nose, a pad covering the inside of the mask above the core and along the sides and across the chin portion of the mask, a valve extending out'from the mask air may be injected into said chamber, all 7 substantially as set forth.

r 3. A helmet comprising a mask conforming with the general contour of a persons face and adapted to be spaced therefrom and having a sight aperture and a mouth aperture therethrough, a core secured to the.

inside .of the mask around the sight aperture and fitting over the face and the bridge of the nose of the wearer, a pad located between the core and the face of thewearer, apad covering the inside of the mask above the core andalong the sidesand across the Copies of this patent may be obtained to: five cents m by, addressing Washington, D'. 0;"

chin portion of the mask, a head" cap extendingback' from the mask and adapted to fit over the upper portion of the head of the wearer, ahood extending up from around the head cap and forming an air reservoir above the head cap, means whereby communication is formed between said reservoir and the space in front of the wearers mouth, a flexible extension projecting back from the sides of the mask, springs connected with the core and extending back and adapted to press said extensions against the sides of the face of the wearer, means for opening and closing'the breathing aperture, means wherebypure air may be injected into said reservoir, resilient means for retaining the lower edges of the head cap in contact with the'back of the wearers head, resilient retaining means extending up over the head of the wearer, means for adjusting the size of the device to the head of the wearer, and a transparency covering said sight, aperture.

In testimony" whereof have hereunto subscribed my name to this specificationin a the presenceof two subscribing Witnesses.

r CARL J. JESSUP.

"Witnesses": i

IIENRY'J. SULeRovE, RoBr. W. RANDLE;

the Commissioner of Patents, 

